Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's the front right endplate that George Russell has lost so he will be losing performance, but he's keeping on the back of Verstappen just in DRS.

Brave stuff from Oscar Piastri [on the start] I think he caught Lando out and Lando was then comprised - maybe in too high a gear - which is when Leclerc pounced.

George Russell has a pretty roughed-up front wing endplate after his battle with Oscar Piastri at the start of the race. The McLaren went late on the brakes, forcing the Mercedes to dive onto the gravel.

Oscar Piastri is 0.887 seconds ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, with Lando Norris still looking for an opportunity to pounce in third place.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We are going to have the slippery surface flag out throughout the race I'm sure. It's so dusty, as soon as you kick up a little bit of grass it just spreads across the track.

"George has a lot of damage, it's dangerous."

With the front-runners squabbling on the opening lap, Max Verstappen has moved up a place to sixth place, with Lewis Hamilton now running in fifth spot.

George Russell is hurting and needs some TLC for his Mercedes. The Briton is stuck in seventh ahead of the Red Bull of Sergio Perez.

"Lewis didn't leave a car's width. I mean I got a penalty for that so..."

So, Lando Norris has it all to do now to get back ahead of not only team-mate Oscar Piastri, but also the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. The Ferrari is carrying nine upgrades this weekend and is sticking to Piastri like glue.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Oscar Piastri, team orders, what team orders? He said before the race that he needs to get a good launch and go from there. Well, he certainly did!

Image source, Reuters

Lando Norris moves across to cover off the threat of team-mate Oscar Piastri and stays ahead into Turn One. George Russell is battling with the McLarens but the Mercedes man locks-up and tumbles down the order.

But here comes Piastri! The cars go through the first chicane and Norris has lost the lead from pole again! It's even worse for the Briton as Charles Leclerc also moves up a place and into second.

Norris is in third!

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

The nearest showers are quickly fading.

Temple of Speed, deliver us an exciting race.

Image source, Getty Images

Lando Norris is leading the pack to the starting grid with his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri just behind.

Here we go then...

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

If Lando Norris was to win the race and Max Verstappen was to finish down in his starting position of seventh.

The gap would be 51 points down from 70, that would be a sizeable chunk eaten into and with nine races left to go.

If it continues that way, he needs a little more than to just win every race, he does need Verstappen to not finish on the podium, to not finish second and today could be a real possibility where they could maximise that with other teams taking points off Verstappen.

Image source, Getty Images

Lando Norris starts on pole position for the third time this season in his McLaren, he told Sky Sports: "It's hot, it might be too hot, I don't think we really expected it to be quite this hot, I don't think it changes much. We still have a lot of question marks about the race about tyre wear and degradation and how to manage and all of these things, it's going to be a tough race but I'm looking forward to it."

If this is an opportunity to take with both hands, he added: "I try and take all of them with both hands so today is not anymore special, it's another race and we have to try and go well and score the points that we can. If my competitor [Verstappen] is further back then that's a bonus at the end of the day, you don't try and make the most of it all of a sudden, it doesn't change our approach, we will stick to our game plan."

The track temperature is 54 degrees at the moment and the top six drivers - Lando Norris down to Lewis Hamilton - are starting on the medium tyre.

The two Red Bull in seventh and eighth have opted for the hard compound to begin with.

But is rain on the way?

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's a tricky run down into Turn One, they are running lower downforce, it's quite hot temperatures here in Monza, but also making sure the brakes are up to temperature. It's really important - regardless of where you are starting - to get a good start.

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter

A prize here at Monza is standing on that podium, it's something that is very special, especially if you're a Ferrari driver.

Image source, Reuters

There we were expecting clear skies and no umbrellas... not so fast! BBC weather forecaster Ian Fergusson has provided this update:

"Air temperature is 33.6C and track 52.2C. Light winds. There's an element of weather jeopardy, due to heavy showers forming in-situ quickly, some only 5-10km away.

"FIA forecasters advising teams to be alert of increasing rain risk."

This was how close qualifying was between the top-six drivers on Saturday. But Max Verstappen, who has been victorious in the past two races at Monza and start P7 today, was nearly seven tenths off the pace of Lando Norris' McLaren.

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:19.327

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.109

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.113

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.134

5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.140

6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.186